Where to Watch Sunrise at Bryce Canyon National Park
The Five Best Places to Watch Sunrise in Bryce Canyon:
- Rainbow Point
- Sunrise Point
- Sunset Point
- Bryce Point
- Inspiration Point
There is nothing more beautiful than watching a Bryce Canyon Sunrise. The way the sun slowly lights up the canyon is a must-see when you visit Bryce and on any Utah National Parks road trip.
We’ll probably catch some slack for not listing Sunrise Point as the top place to watch the sunrise, BUT give us a chance to explain in the rest of this post!
We’ve done the research so you don’t have to! Let’s help you find where to watch sunrise at Bryce Canyon National Park!
Bryce Canyon Map
Bryce is essentially one long road running north to south.
The main section of the park is the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater and the canyon rim. This is home to the most popular views, hikes, and experiences in the park (more on those later!).
On the northern end of the park is Mossy Cave and Fairyland Point – two of the least visited areas of the park.
And running the length of the park to the south is the Bryce Canyon Scenic Drive. This 18 mile drive takes you to the highest elevations of the park – Yovimpa Point and Rainbow Point – at 9,100 feet.
The best part is that the Bryce Shuttle can take you to many of the popular attractions of the park!
Top Five Places to Watch Sunrise in Bryce Canyon National Park
We spent 3 full days in Bryce Canyon. Which means we had the chance to see multiple sunrises and sunsets. Every location in the park is spectacular and you can’t go wrong from any point.
Here’s where we’d catch the sunrise if we were doing it all over again!
Rainbow Point
Rainbow Point has the best sunrise in Bryce Canyon National Park! It is located on the far south end of the park at an elevation of 9,115 feet.
Rainbow Point gives you the most expansive view of the entire park. You can see the edges of the canyon, the expanding forest below, the distant hills, and the top of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to the east. It may be the best viewpoint int he entire park.
If you want to catch the sunrise at Rainbow Point, you’ll have to plan for some extra driving time. It takes about 30 minutes to get from the Bryce Canyon Visitor Center to the Rainbow Point parking lot. The extra time will be worth it – we promise!
Sunrise Point
Sunrise Point is appropriately named. It’s an iconic and popular place to catch the Sunrise at Bryce because you get a perfect view of the Bryce Amphitheater and the tops of the hoodoos in the canyon. It’s one of the best spots to catch the sunrise in the park.
We recommend parking along the road near the North Campground General Store or The Lodge at Bryce Canyon. From here you can walk the short, paved distance up to the point.
The path splits in a few different directions as you head up to Sunrise, but they all take you to just about the same views. If you’d like a quiet and serene experience, find a nice spot to yourself!
Sunrise is very popular, so be sure to get up early. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding parking in the morning, but there will be plenty of folks up there!
Sunset Point
Sunset Point is located about 0.5 miles south of Sunrise along the canyon rim. This is also a very popular place to see the sunrise and sunset at Bryce Canyon.
From here you get an equally incredible view of the canyon. Stroll along the path until you find a quiet spot with a few less people to enjoy the sunrise.
We recommend parking at the Sunset Point Road loop, where you have easy access up to the viewpoint.
Bryce Point
Bryce Point has an interesting lookout over the the canyon, especially at sunrise. It is located a few miles south of the Sunset/Sunrise area.
Park at the Bryce Point Road parking lot and walk the path to the overlook. The path safely leads you along the edge of the cliff to an area with a small gate facing north.
Next to Rainbow Point, this might have been our favorite view at the park. It’s also a great viewpoint to watch the sunset in Bryce.
Inspiration Point
Inspiration Point actually has two different viewpoints. And it’s easily the most challenging to get to compared to all the other points.
Lower Inspiration Point is up a small incline from the parking lot and trailhead. Although it’s a relatively easy walk up the path, it is still at an incline.
Upper Inspiration Point is only a few hundred feet up the path, but it is all incline! We were surprised by how challenging the short walk up was. It’s entirely safe to walk, just hard at that elevation!
All that being said, we’d definitely recommend taking the hike up (if you can safely do it) because the upper point is absolutely gorgeous.
The path leads you out along the cliff and overlooks Bryce Amphitheater. We got the sense that we were peering down over the cliffs, looking away from the canyon, and sitting well above the valley.
We rank this spot lower simply because it’s a bit more challenging to get to than all of the other views.
Best Morning Hikes in Bryce Canyon
After watching a spectacular sunrise at Bryce Canyon you have two options:
- Go back to your car and take a nap (which we admittedly did on one occasion!)
- Or get started on a trail before the crowds move in!
If you decide to hit the trail, these are our three favorite morning hikes at Bryce Canyon.
Rim Trail
The Rim Trail runs north to south from Fairyland Point at 7,758 feet elevation, all the way up to Bryce Point at 8,296 feet of elevation. The trail takes you along the rim of the canyon.
This trail is fantastic because it is an easy paved path walking above the Bryce Amphitheater and gives you a nice view of the whole canyon. You could (in theory) walk all the way from Sunrise Point to Bryce Point with around 200 feet of elevation gain.
This is a fantastic stroll where you will break a sweat, but still be easy enough to take slowly and enjoy the morning sun.
Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail
The Peek-A-Boo Loop is a strenuous 5.5 mile hike that will take you between 3-4 hours to complete if you do the entire loop. The best starting point to access the Peek-A-Boo Loop is from Bryce Point. The trail descends 670 feet into the canyon floor. The NPS recommends hiking the trail clockwise.
Peek-A-Boo Loop is perfectly named. Around every turn and corner, you’ll get views of the hoodoos emerging from the canyon walls. These rock formations are almost unbelievable to believe until you’re standing underneath one.
This is a great hike to take in the morning when your energy is high, the crowds are slim, and the sun is not yet too hot (during summer, at least!). It is one of Bryce Canyon’s best overall hikes!
A pro tip is you can actually knock out two trails in one.
We started our hike at Bryce Point and made our way down to the Peek-A-Boo Loop. Take the clockwise route until you reach the path connecting Peek-A-Boo and the Navajo Loop Trail. We then walked the eastern loop of the trail, finishing up at Sunset Point.
One very important note: the switchbacks leading up to Sunset Point on the Navajo Loop Trail are tough. There is no getting around it. It’s a steep incline, several switchbacks, and plenty of people catching their breath on the way up. The reward is at the top where you’ll see Thor’s Hammer!
You will earn your lunch if you take this hike. And it will be 100% worth it!
Queen’s Garden Trail
The Queen’s Garden Trail is a 2.9 mile out and back trail into the amphitheater. You can start this hike from Sunrise Point.
This trail is the easiest of all the hikes leading down to Bryce Canyon. It is still challenging, but can be completed in about 2 hours.
The highlight of this trail is getting a glimpse at the Queen Victoria hoodoo. It is rock formation that – at best – slightly resembles a statue of Queen Victoria. We honestly could not tell, but it was still cool!
Figure 8 Combination Hike
If you’re feeling brave, you can combine the three amphitheater hikes: Queen’s Garden, Navajo Loop, and Peek-A-Boo Loop, to create the ultimate Figure-8 Combination hike!
For the best experience, hike in a clockwise direction:
- Start by descending Queen’s Garden
- Then connect to the Peekaboo Loop (also recommended to hike clockwise), and
- Finally ascend either side of the loop Navajo Loop, ending at Sunset Point.
- To complete the trail, hike back to Sunrise Point along the canyon rim.
You will see the best of Bryce on this combination of trails!
What Time is Sunrise at Bryce Canyon?
The sun rises at different times throughout the year as the seasons change. Depending on the time of year you are visiting, you will have to adjust your schedule to catch the sunrise in Bryce Canyon.
Spring Sunrise at Bryce Canyon
From March to May, the sun rises in Bryce Canyon between 7am and 6am. Mid-march brings a time change, which causes the sun rise time to move forward one hour, before the days start to grow longer into Spring.
Summer Sunrise at Bryce Canyon
From June to August, the sun rises in Bryce Canyon between 6am and 7am. As the summer starts to fade, the days slowly grow shorter. This pushes the sun rise to a bit later in the morning.
Fall Sunrise at Bryce Canyon
From September to November, the sun rises in Bryce Canyon between 7am and 7:30am. In early November, we get another time change. Just before the clocks fall back, sunrise is close to 8am!
Winter Sunrise at Bryce Canyon
And finally if you’re visiting between December and February, the sun rises in Bryce Canyon between 7:30am and 7am. Winter brings the shortest and coldest days of the year at Bryce. Be sure to pack warm clothes if you attempt to see the sunrise during winter.
Photography Tips for Bryce Canyon Sunrise Photography
If you’re a photography enthusiast looking to capture the beauty of this incredible landscape, here are some tips to photograph the sunrise at Bryce Canyon!
Scout Locations in Advance
Do some research to identify the best spots for sunrise photography. Look for iconic viewpoints that offer unobstructed views of the canyon and the rising sun. Sunrise Point and Sunset Point are popular choices among photographers.
Arrive Early
To capture the magical moments leading up to the sunrise, arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time. This will give you ample time to set up your gear and find the perfect composition.
Compose Your Shot
Find an interesting foreground element, such as a hoodoo or a tree, to add depth and a sense of scale to your photograph. Experiment with different angles and compositions to create visually compelling images.
Capture the Changing Light
During sunrise, the light changes rapidly, creating a blend of warm and cool tones. Don’t be afraid to explore different white balance settings to capture the ambiance of the moment. Shoot in RAW format to retain maximum flexibility during post-processing.
Now, it’s Time to Go Watch the Sunrise at Bryce Canyon!
If you’re taking a trip to Bryce Canyon soon, please make time to see one of the best sunrises in Utah.
Whether you make your way up to higher elevations or simply want to walk along the rim trail, seeing the sunrise in Bryce is a spectacular experience.
Getting a chance to watch the sunrise or sunset in Bryce Canyon will definitely be a memorable experience!
If you’re visiting Bryce Canyon soon, let us know by sending us an email at: [email protected]!
